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New Season Bridesmaid - Priscilla of Boston
2007-11-08 02:07:00
In addition to the new gown styles that premiered in New York at the end of October, there was also a new crop of bridesmaid dresses. In general I think you should just get your bridesmaid dresses off the rack but that doesn't mean a girl can't admire from afar. I think my favorites were from Priscilla of Boston . I love, love, love how rich the gold color looks. All photos from Brides.
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Becoming Hairless - Part III
2007-11-07 23:27:00
My final stop on my quest to have no hair was for a haircut at One80 salon. My stylist is Remi Metsu, one of the owners, and I think he's quite good with shorter hair like mine. I have heard good things about Jeremey Buchanan, their colorist, as well. I don't get my hair colored so I can't testify to his abilities. One new staff member that I think would be worth checking out if you are a bride is Fred Hawck. In a past life he was the wig and hair supervisor at Arena Stage so if anyone knows updos it would be him.Finally, the first thursday of every month they have complimentary blow dry classes so you can learn how to get that fresh out of a salon look at home. How fun would this be for you and your bridesmaids?
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Unique Favors...
2007-11-07 23:23:00
With it getting darker out earlier, I must admit I am starting to fade away from my work earlier and earlier...today it was around 5:00 that I found myself thinking of wedding favors. I really want something unique, yet useful. I have been playing with the ideas of Spanish Fans ( to stick with our theme) but the ones I really like are to expensive, and the "generic" fans, at least for me, are not what I would like.I do have to share with my fellow brides the following website Give Favor s . These are honestly Unique , classy but Affordable favors. I haven't even finished looking at the whole site, but I have posted a couple of my favorites!^ With all the awareness now of "going green" I think this is a cute and environmentally friendly idea, and I know not original but I love the idea of "Love Grows". I know I still have my plant from my College Graduation ( a gift from my mother) and I think knowing that our guests would have that growing in there houses is sweet, also the envelope ...

Hair it is (Part one)
2007-11-07 01:05:00
[I tried to post pictures with this but for whatever reason it didn't work. Click on the embedded links to see illustrations of what I'm talking about please!]I really want to whack my hair off into a smart little chin-length bob. (I go through this every year about this time.) Normally it's not an issue and I can do it if I want to but this time around it's just nothing something that can so easily happen since keeping my hair long will give me a lot more options as to what to do with it come time for me to get all dolled up in my big dress and veil.I have some challenges with making decisions about how I'm going to be wearing my hair:I am wearing two different dresses for the wedding and one (sort of) requires that I wear a headpiece that looks really terribly with anything but hair upOne of my dresses is strapless and the other completely comes up to my neck and covers my shoulders.In the last few years I've developed kind of an odd hairline. It's like a widow's peak ...
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Becoming Hairless Part II
2007-11-06 20:44:00
Next on my list was getting rid of unwanted eyebrow and facial hair. The place I go for this is called Threads (no website) . I've been getting my eyebrows threaded for almost a decade thanks to some of my South Asian friends from college. If you don't know what threading is you can read up on it here.People debate whether or not threading is less painful then waxing (for me it is) but who cares? It's a LOT more accurate and precise then waxing and unlike waxing it doesn't rip off the top layer of skin. I have extremely sensitive skin and having red wax burns from facial waxing is not my idea of fun. Since threading doesn't rip off the top layer of skin like waxing it is safe even if you are using anti-acne medicines like Retin-A.This "new" trend is becoming very popular in the U.S. even though people in South Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe have been doing it thousands of years. You can go to a fancy salon to get it done but I prefer Threads. It's just two Sou...
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Transportation...
2007-11-06 20:43:00
Transportation...it seems so easy, so simple, yet in reality it is much more difficult! As I posted in an earlier post, Fiance and I have our car, a vintage Rolls Royce. Now its trying to figure out everyone else's transportation.We are getting married at a church in Georgetown, this causes some logistics as it is, as I'm sure most of you know it is nearly impossible to find a parking space in Georgetown on a Saturday. We have been told by the church we can have the police block off SOME of the street, but in all actuality this will probably only be enough room for the Limo ( for the bridal party) and the vintage car.With this in mind Fiance and I are trying to figure out what we need for transportation. Most likely we will be getting a Van of some sorts ( also looking into a trolley) to transport guests from the hotel to the church ( I will post more on our finds later). Then we are left with busing them after the reception..back to the hotel? on a brief tour of the city? There i...
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Becoming Hairless - Part I
2007-11-06 20:15:00
Before I went to Atlanta this last weekend for my friend's wedding I had a lot of grooming to take care of. First on the list was getting rid of my winter coat on my legs and bikini area. I've been getting leg waxes and Brazilian bikini waxes for years now and I've done it everywhere from the Four Seasons to the backroom of a South American hair salon. I've also had waxing so well done I hardly felt a thing to waxing so poorly done that I've bled, so I consider myself somewhat of an expert in the area.I had heard good things about Ibiza Day Spa near the Foggy Bottom metro stop so I decided to check it out. The reason I had heard good things was because of the great prices. Brazilian Bikini waxes are only $45...this is at least $20 less then you will find any place else in the area. Full leg is only $60. Plus first time customers get 10% off with this print-0ut.Overall I give the experience a thumbs up. I was in and out in about 30 mins which was excellent and could be do...
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Little Black Book Goes Live
2007-11-06 16:11:00
Ok, right now before you even finish reading this post you MUST head over to Style Me Pretty.Abby has finally after many months of teasing and anticipation released the Little Black Book of Vendors. It's an uber discerning list of the country's top wedding vendors, not based on how much money they are spending on flashy ads and such, but based on real blog reading brides who have provided much of the content we ooh and aah over right here at DC Nearlyweds. Nabbing a slot is tough! You brides don't give a thumbs up to just anybody and to top it off only three vendors per category make the cut. After perusing the Book, you must then subscribe to Abby's blog Style Me Pretty, if you haven't done so already. There isn't a better inspiration source in blogdom for beautiful weddings.Oh and before I forget to self toot, holy matrimony, our planning company, has made to cut and are in the black book--Woo Hoo!! We're Rock Stars!!!
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New TV Show Anyone Interested?
2007-11-06 15:35:00
Came across this, thought someone might be interested. I don't have any further details, unfortunately. If someone applies and gets a response, perhaps they can share.Are you a fabulous bride-to-be planning an extravagant wedding for 2008? Is your wedding going to be the social event of the year? Are you and your bridesmaids completely wrapped up in the excitement of planning your big day? Do you want the world to see you get sent off in style?If so, a major cable network is looking for the country’s most fabulous brides-to-be and their bridal parties to be the subject of a new reality show. BRIDAL PARTY documents the excitement of planning the most luxurious, glamorous, stylish and exclusive weddings in 2008.Following every major event in the months leading up to the big day, BRIDAL PARTY is a show about friendship, rites of passage, love, family, shopping and one long, lavish farewell party as a group of girlfriends do everything they can to send their bride off in high-style.T...
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Favor Boxes
2007-11-06 05:00:00
The reason I was over at Paper Orchid Stationery to begin with was because I saw the below white favor box in the most recent edition of Modern Bride. I'm still a little undecided on whether or not to do favors, but I was thinking of doing the boxes with green wrapped Lindt Lindor truffles which are in my colors so the green would show through the white lattice work. Plus people could have a favor they could eat. The boxes are $70 for 50 which isn't too pricey. They have a few other styles, as well as some really colorful flower favor boxes that I think would look really fun and whimsical all lined up. Those are half off...only $30 for 50.
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Monogram
2007-11-06 01:25:00
What is a monogram? This is the question that was plaguing me while I was home in NY this weekend. My mother and I were reading bridal magazines ( our newest form of literature) the fiance and father in law were watching football, and my mom and I got into discussion of a Monogram. Now don't get me wrong, we know what a monogram is, we just couldn't figure out how Mr. Alexandria and I could figure out our personal monogram. After drawing some monograms on paper ( not going to lie they were pretty awful)Mama Alexandria and I went downstairs to our favorite friend, Mr Google, and we found an amazing tool Love Letters Logos. I'm not sure if y'all have heard of this , but it was a great tool if you aren't quite sure what you want to do for your monogram or how you want to arrange your names, it designs custom wedding logos. Here are a few of my favorites :

Shapewear
2007-11-06 00:40:00
While reading New York Daily News this morning, I came across this article called "Lose 2 inches in 2 hours," so of course, like any woman with the thought of her wedding day on the horizon, I read as fast as I could.The answer? Dr. Rey, the slightly odd ninja/plastic surgeon on Dr. 90210 has done us ladies who are less than excited about lipo a big favor. It's called Shapewear, a line he developed to help women keep the illusion of a fabulous bod, using a sexy, economical undergarment. At first I didn't think anything could trump Spanx, but this dress is SOLD OUT on Home Shopping Network's website, which means there are lots of ladies after this little miracle. Here's what he has to say about it:"The support panels are sewn exactly as I would do in the operating room, so there's a similar result as to what we achieve in surgery. It's like having a tummy tuck, a butt lift, a breast lift and lipo, all without the surgery."I reveal to you...the Shapewear XTreme Plunge Dress!It'...

Cupcake Wrappers
2007-11-05 21:24:00
Cupcake trees in lieu of a cake have been a trend for a while but if you're looking for a way to make your cupcakes a little bit more elegant or a little bit more fun try these cupcake wrappers from Paper Orchid Stationery. At $46 for 50 they are one of those little extras that won't break the bank. They come in all types of themes...some suitable for weddings, some for a beach themed wedding, some for a winter wedding, and they also have some for baby showers, graduation, kid's birthdays, the holidays, you name it.
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Wedding Hilarity
2007-11-05 00:15:00
This comes directly from The Wedding Planner' Blog. I can take no credit, but it made me laugh!!I’m a HUGE fan of Bill Maher’s Real Time. I especially love the segment at the end of his show where he does his “New Rules“, a very blunt, albeit hilarious take on random news items. I sat listening to it on my iPod on the way to the airport, and thought– “I should so do a version of ‘New Rules’” for the blog. So each Friday will be “New Rule” Friday. New Rule: Stop thinking you can invite 300 of your closest family and friends to your wedding on a $10,000 budget. The only place that will fit your budget is the McDonald’s playroom, catered by the redheaded clown himself. New Rule: Your bridesmaids love you, but had no intention on becoming indentured servants. They really don’t want to do all 248 tasks on your to do list, no matter what the bridal magazines tell you. New Rule: Stop lying to yourself saying you’re going to lose weight in order to fit in...

Baltimore Sample Sale for the Cure
2007-11-04 20:55:00
Bridals by Elena bridal boutique in Severna Park is having a gown (bridal, special occasion, bridesmaids, prom) sample sale on Thanksgiving weekend (Nov 23-25). Designer gowns will be 50% to 70% off with 10% of the proceeds donated to the Susan G. Komen for the CURE. Call 410.975.0076 to schedule your appointment. Bridal sample gowns for sale from the following designers. · Legends by Romona Keveza · Yolanda Couture · Demetrios · La Sposa · San Patrick · Sposa by St Pucchi · Anjolique · Mary's · Maggie Sottero · Watters & Watters · Winnie Couture · Mon Cheri · Sabrina Toy · Sonia Cholette · Impression · and more…. For more information about us (e.g. hours, location, etc…) please visit their website at www.bridalsbyelena.com
More About: Sale , Sample Sale , Baltimore , The Cure , Cure

My First Big Worry
2007-11-04 18:28:00
Since it's officially one year from our wedding day this month, I've finally delved further into my "Bride's Year Ahead: Ultimate month-by-month planner" than the supplement book with clear, tabbed envelopes where I've housed my inspirational clippings. I labeled each one with reception; flowers; paper; fashion; misc. and receipts. I'd be lying if I didn't say that this has been, by far, the handiest resource, especially while trying to convey my overall design ideas to vendors.But, on to the actual book. As I started to read through it, I began to ...feel the pressure. Month 11 is when I should be looking for an officiant and a band/dj. I'm going to break this down into two parts:Officiant-I come from a devout Catholic family. Mr. Shirlington comes from a non-denominational, deeply religious family. Therefore, we'll be having two ceremonies. It took us months to even come to a decision on that.The problem is, we just moved to this area and haven't even found a church to w...
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BRIDEZILLA EATS CHILDREN
2007-11-03 03:59:00
If you have decided to leave the little monsters off the invitation… Congrats, on making a stand that will not be accepted by many! Mr. Military and I planned a very formal wedding and decided to EXCLUDE children under the age of sixteen. The decision earned me the golden title of "Brideszilla." If being shunned by half the family was not bad enough, it’s been suggested that “we” (the bride and groom) should pay the cost of childcare service for our guests. So I ask, is this customary??? Should we “the couple” take responsibility for providing childcare? I don’t have children … and therefore, I never took into consideration childcare while planning the wedding. As the hostess, I’m busy planning the menu, table decorations, floral arrangements, catering menus, accommodations, and transportation…. I never anticipated adding, “finding a babysitter” to the checklist. Honestly, It’s way too much responsibility to be held accountable for the wel...
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Irish Wedding
2007-11-02 15:57:00
During a recent trip to Ireland, I had the absolute joy of seeing the most extravagant wedding in Killarney, a small but bustling town just outside the National Park of Ireland. This wedding was more vibrant than any other wedding I've ever seen, though I haven't been to many, or even one outside of the American culture.So I was walking along and came upon this beautiful church. Notice that there are no wedding guests anywhere in sight. So as I get closer, the church bells begin to ring followed by a rumble of voices. I rounded the corner to find the end of an amazing wedding and all the guests gathering outside for photos and to congratulate the bride and groom. Having just gotten engaged, I began snapping photos when I realized this was no ordinary wedding. The bridesmaids were all in different colored dresses in different, crazy styles. They were decked out it feathers and sparkles.And then there was the bride. She embodied the phrase "Go big, or go home." She had big hair, a ...
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When You're the Guest - Part II
2007-11-02 01:35:00
This weekend I'm headed to Atlanta for my old college roommate's wedding. I think I'm more excited about this wedding then I am about any that I'm going to this year (cept mine of course). She is one of my most unique and creative friends, is always ahead of clothing trends, and wherever she lives it's always decorated well. She's also a vegetarian and does what she can to save the world from itself so I expect the wedding to be a visual feast and eco-conscious. Unlike the outfit I wore to the last wedding I went to, I felt the outfit for this wedding needed to be more on the modern side of things. The ceremony and reception are going to take place in the evening in a very modern venue...a gallery that is mainly brick, concrete and steel. I chose the below Banana Republic dress (sold out now) except I'll be wearing a sheer black tank beneath it because it goes down too low on me for me to be comfortable. I chose the below grey shoes from Seychelles to go with it. Normal...
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Holiday Engagements
2007-11-02 00:46:00
If you're reading this blog chances are you are already engaged, but maybe you have some girlfriends who are expecting proposals or a guyfriend thinking about popping the question this holiday season. I saw these over at Red Envelope and thought they'd be perfect for a Christmas time proposal. Perfect size for an engagement ring and an ornament you can put on your Christmas tree for the rest of your married life.
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